Can-opener



(No Model.) v

' D. B. SANFORD.

CAN OPENER.

iii

Patented Oot. 24, 1893,

f respectively.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID B. SANFORD,'OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO HARLAN P. SANFORD, OF MEDWAY, MASSACHUSETTS.

'CAN-OPEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,171, dated October 24, 1893.

Application filed December 15,1892- Serlal No. 455,264. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID B. SANFORD, a citizen of the United. States, residing at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked zhereon, which form a part of this specifica- My invention consists in an improvement in can openers, and it has for its object to produce a more convenient and efficient implement and one which is adapted to out both curved and straight edges.

To this end it consists of certain novel features and combinations of parts more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my device; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the cutter in a different position; Fig. 3, a top view; Fig. 4: a section on line II Fig. 1, and Fig. 5, a section on line lIII-IIII Fig. 1.

The reference letter 00 indicates the handle of mydevice which may be of any preferred construction. Formed integral with the handle a is the enlarged head b,having the countersunk portion 0, and curved guard or fulcrum arm d. Securely fastened in the countersunk portion 0 by means of a screw or rivet e is the cutting blade or knife e. This knife comprises the straight blade f, and the curved blade g, each having the cutting edges g and The blade f extends below the guard at and out slightly beyond the fulcrum noseh, while the blade g lies adjacent to and parallel with the guard d.

To use the device for opening a can having a straight edge or a can having corners or angles, the blade f is stuck through the can and pushed up as far as it will go. This will bring the fulcrum nose f on the outer side of the can, and in engagement therewith. When the device is in this position the handle a is raised as directed by the arrow 1, (see Fig. 1,) the nose h operating as a fulcrum or pivot upon which the device oscillates. This operation will bring the knife f into vertical position, that portion of the can that is in its path 5 5 being cut by such movement. The handle is then moved downward and the knife pushed up again when the operation is repeated.

When the can is round the blade 9 is used. This is done by reversing or turning the device over, as in Fig.2, and punching the blade g into the can as was the case with blade f.

In this case the shoulder c is used as the fulcrum, it resting on the edge of the can. See the dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the cutter is in this position the guard 01, will lap over the side of the can, thereby guiding and steadyin'g the cutter and insuring a regular cut around the edge.

To cut the can the handle is moved in the direction ofarrow 2, Fig. 2, which will cause the blade g as was the case with the blade f to stroke upward cutting on such upward stroke. After the cutting stroke (arrow 2) has been made the original position or recover 7 5 is effected by throwing the handle back and pushing the blade up into the out. When this has been done the cutting stroke is repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A can opener comprising two cutting blades, one of which is curved and the other straight, formed of an integral piece of flat steel, and hence on substantially the same plane, and a curved guard or gage lying parallel with the curved blade, and co-operating therewith, substantially as described.

2. A can opener comprising a handle pro- 0 vided with a fulcrum point, a curved guard formed on the handle and having a second fulcrum point, and two cutting blades one of which is straight and the other curved, the two blades being formed of an integral piece of steel, the straight blade being arranged to co-act with the fulcrum on the guard, and the curved blade with the fulcrum on the handle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in [0Q presence of two witnesses.

oAvro B. SANFORD. 

